The Requirements of a Watchman.

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 3:16-27

 

Ezekiel 3:17

 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.

(ESV)

 

Before getting into the text of this posting, I want to urge everyone to continue praying for Israel. God’s Word promises that those supporting Israel will be blessed and those not supporting them cursed (Genesis 12:2-3). The great nation God promised Abraham is Israel through the child of promise Isaac (Genesis 17:15-20). Even though Israel remains a rebellious nation having rejected their Messiah (Mark 15:16-20), God has a plan for Israel, but it will come through great tribulation (Jeremiah 30:7). While Scripture foretells this time of trouble for Israel, Christians must continue to pray that many Jews in Israel will come to know Jesus Christ as their Messiah.

 

After seven days with the exiles, Ezekiel receives a word from the Lord that the Lord has made him a watchman for Israel with instructions to warn Israel as directed by the Lord (Ezekiel 3:16-17). The Lord then issues a warning to Ezekiel regarding the consequences of not warning the wicked who shall surely die for continuing in their wickedness. The warning to Ezekiel is that while the wicked will die for his or her iniquity, the blood of the wicked person will be on Ezekiel for not warning him (Ezekiel 3:18). However, warning the wicked person gives him or her an opportunity to repent of his or her wickedness and absolves Ezekiel of any guilt (Ezekiel 3:19).

 

Ezekiel receives additional instructions regarding a righteous man turning from his righteousness and committing injustice. If the Lord lays a stumbling block before him or her, the person will die with his or her righteous deeds forgotten. If the watchman failed to warn him or her, their blood will be on the watchman’s hand just as with a wicked man who was not warned (Ezekiel 3:20) However, if the watchman warned the righteous person, he shall live if he does not sin with Ezekiel absolved of any guilt because he warned the righteous person (Ezekiel 3:21).

 

The Lord then sends Ezekiel to the valley where the Lord will speak to him (Ezekiel 3:22). Upon arriving in the valley, Ezekiel receives another vision of the glory of the Lord like the one he received by the Chebar canal with Ezekiel falling on his face (Ezekiel 1, 3:23). The Spirit then entered into Ezekiel and sets him on his feet, telling Ezekiel to shut himself within his house (Ezekiel 3:24). Within his house, Ezekiel will be bound with cords, so he is unable to go out among the people (Ezekiel 3:25). Ezekiel will also be unable to speak and reprove Israel because they are a rebellious nation (Ezekiel 3:26). However when the Lord speaks to Ezekiel, He will open his mouth and he will speak to the people of Israel saying, “Thus says the Lord God.” Those that will listen let them listen and those refusing to hear let them refuse for they are rebellious (Ezekiel 3:27). Thus, Ezekiel fulfills his duty as a watchman.

 

God instructs Ezekiel about the requirements of a watchman which is to warn about the consequences of continued living in wickedness. Failure to warn the wicked when instructed to do so will result in the blood of the wicked being on Ezekiel’s hand when the wicked die in their wickedness. However, if Ezekiel warns the wicked person, they will die in their wickedness if they do not heed the warning, but Ezekiel will not have any guilt (Ezekiel 3:17-19). The same requirements apply to warning a righteous man not to sin with him living if he heeds the warning and dying in his iniquity if he does not heed the warning. In either case, the watchman has no guilt if he warns the person (Ezekiel 3:20-21). The bottom line is that a watchman must warn the wicked or righteous considering turning from his righteousness, and free of guilt regardless of whether the person warned obeys the word of the Lord or not. The Lord then sends Ezekiel into the valley, instructing him to open his mouth when instructed to do so by the Lord whether the house of Israel hears or not (Ezekiel 3:22-27) thus fulfilling his role as a watchman.  

 

Those in ministry today are watchmen of the Gospel and God’s word with the Lord holding them to the same standards as a watchman given to Ezekiel. Like Ezekiel, the calling of a watchman has a requirement to warn someone living in wickedness or contemplating turning from their righteousness in Christ and returning to wickedness with the watchman incurring guilt if they fail to warn them. Unfortunately, in the interest of not offending someone and losing membership and contributions, many watchmen in Churches today do not speak against sin even though all have sinned with a penalty of death (Romans 3:23, 6:23). Instead of risking loss of members, these Churches preach a feel-good message that tickles the ears of congregants (2 Timothy 4:3). These Churches are like the Church in Laodicea who find security in their wealth and riches believing they do not need a thing, including genuine salvation from their sins, using God to acquire more wealth (Revelation 3:14-22).

 

If you are reading this post and have not prayed to receive Jesus as your savior and receive forgiveness for your sins, I urge you to do so now by praying with me.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.